Due to its unique reproductive system, the mushroom industry has had a long history of deriving new strains from commercially valuable stocks by such simple means as clonal propagation, single or multi-spore selection. Strains derived in such a way are known as essentially derived varieties or EDV’s and are difficult to identify and difficult for the breeder to protect against. EDV’s numerous patents endorse the importance of a robust variety protection system designed to protect the breeder from unfair competition. The EDV working group has produced a position paper on EDVs/Essentially Derived Varieties in mushrooms. Sylvan supports this initiative.
Sylvan Inc. EDV statement
(link to statement) – http://sylvaninc.com/edv.pdf